Boat and propelling mechanism therefor



Jul 1, 1941. E F, HEISE 2,247,683

BOAT AND PROPELLING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed March 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [an Am 19375:

ATTORNEY July 1, 1941. E. F. HEISE BOAT AND PROPELLING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed March 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4 EDWARD E HELSE BY mm- Q ATTORNEY Patented July 1, 1941 A BoAr AND PROPELLING MECHANISM THEREFOR Edward-F. Heise, Devon, Conn.

Application March 26, 1938, Serial No. 198,195 3 Claims. (01. 115 -24) The present invention relates toimprovements and to means for driving the same, in- .ning novel foot-actuated mechanism.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved foot-actuated propelling mechanism whereby greater speed is obtained with less physical force than was possible with similar devices prior to my invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot-actuated propelling mechanism for a boat with an improved balancing device whereby all rocking or jumpy action of the boat due to the operation of the propelling mechanism is avoided.

A further object is the provision of apropelling mechanism which is capable of pivoting freely relative to the boat when it meets an obstruction and of sliding over such obstruction without interrupting the operation of any part of the mechamsm.

The invention has for another object the'provision of a steering device whereby the propelling mechanism itself is utilized for steering purposes and. whereby the use of a separate rudder becomes unnecessary.

A further object of the invention is to combine the propeller-rotating, pivoting and steering mechanisms in such a manner that they operate independently of each other and without one affecting the operation of the'other.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of propelling and steering. mechanisms for a boat which are combined to form a unitary structure, which can be sold in assembled condition and installed in a boat or removed-therefrom by simple operation and Within a short time.

Features resulting from the attainment of these objects are the use of a novel suspension of foot pedals, of a pair of flywheels on a'common drive shaft cooperating in a novel manner with the foot pedals to balance and overcome. the rocking forces produced by the operation of the foot pedals and connected with the foot pedals in such a manner that a common dead center position is avoided and at least one of the foot pedals is always in an operative position to ro tate the drive shaft.

Other features of the invention includes: a novel supporting mechanism for a propeller comprising a swing frame which is capable of pivoting relative to the boat independently of the rotation of the drive shaft when in the movement of the boat the swing frame encounters an obstruction; and a gear mechanism for rotating the propeller in which the gears are in constant meshing engagement with each other and one gear is capable of riding epicyclically on the other gear to permit relative pivotal movement of the axes of the gears.

Still other features are the provision or a simple mechanism for turning the propeller about a normally substantially vertical axis for steering the boat,-a novel device for tensioning and releasing a steering cable, and a sliding connection between the steering cable and the swing frame which per- I mits pivoting of the swing frame relative to the boat without changing the vertical position of the steering cable.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear more fully from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section, of a boat equipped with the propelling and steering mechanism according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the boat shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is-a fractional perspective view of a modified detail of the invention. Fig. 7 is a fractional side view of the steering rod.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side View of a modified arrangement of the propelling device on a boat.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention-is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

-A boat ll! of any suitable design or shape may be provided with a recess l l in its bottom iZadja'centthe stern walll-B, having side walls l4 and a front wall iii of a height sufficient to'prevent water from entering into the boat without requiring a cover to seal the recess. A main drive shaft l6 having a pair of flywheels ll secured to its outer ends is rotatably mounted in the side walls l4. Each of the flywheels I! is provided near its periphery with a pin 18, and the flywheels I! are secured to the shaft in such a manher that the pin it on one flywheel is diametrically opposed to the pin on the other flywheel.

As shown, particularly by Figs. 1 and 2, at least one pair of angular pedaling levers i9 is pivotally secured to and suspended from a pair of bearings '25. mounted on a fixed part of the boat and carry foot pedals or pads 2! at their lower ends. A pair of connecting rods 22 of equal length are pivotally connected at one end to pins l8 and at theother end to the outer ends 23 of levers l9 bymeans of eyes 24 which fit over the tained on said bushing by means of a collar Ill suitably secured to the steering rod 66 adjacent and above the bushing 68, and a drum H secured to the steering rod adjacent and below the bushing 68. A steering cable 12 is tightly wound several convolutions around drum II and may be further secured to the drum by winding it once is always above its reardead center position, and Q the corresponding pedal in raised or active position. Therefore, a common dead center position of both connecting rods 22 on flywheels I! can never occur and the pedals may be acted upon to rotate the flywheels I! at all times.

As shown particularly by Figs. 3 and 4, a.

forked or U-shaped pivoted supporting member 26 comprises a split sleeve 21 and upstanding arms 28 with strengthening webs 29 thereon and hub members 30 at the outer ends of the arms having coaxial bores 3| which fit loosely over the drive shaft 16, and recesses in the outer'faces of hubs, into which flanged radial bearings 32 are forced which rotatably support the drive shaft I5within the hub members 30. Hubs 30, in turn, are pivotally secured Within cap bearings 33 which are mounted within semicircular apertures 34 in the upper ends of side walls I by bolts 35.

Sleeve 21 encloses a bushing 36 and grips the same firmly by means of screws 31 which draw the flanges '38 of the sleeve toward each other.

A swing frame 39, which is'open toward the front is formed of top, bottom and 'side walls or arms 40, 4| and 42, respectively, a' rear wall 43 which extends both above and below the top and bottom walls, a flange or arm 44 at the upper end of the rear wall 43 extending parallel with the top wall or arm 49 to form a bifurcated member 45 with said top wall and the extended portion 46 of the rear wall 43, a rearwardly projecting fin 41 at the lower extended portion 48 of the rear wall 43, and strengthening webs 49 connecting the fin 41 with the rear and bottom walls 43 and 41., respectively.

The split sleeve 21 and bushing 36 within said sleeve fit slidably between the arms 44 and 40 of the bifurcated member 45. Coaxial bores 50 are provided in the arms 44 and 40, the bushing 36 and the bottom wall 4!. Ball bearings 5| are forced into the bores in the upper flange or arm 44 and the bottom wall 4!, in which an intermediate drive shaft 52 is rotatably supported.

A bevel pinion 53 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 52 and meshes continuously with a bevel gear 54 fixed on the main drive shaft IS. A second pinion 55, similar to pinion 53, is secured to the lower end of intermediate shaft 52 and is in continuous meshing engagement with a third bevel pinion 56 at one end of a stub shaft 51 which is rotatably mounted within a sleevelike projection 58 of the rear wall 43 of the swing frame 39. The stub shaft 51 carries a propeller '59 at its other end.

An arcuately shaped lever 60 is rigidly secured to the rear wall of swing frame '39 and extends upwardly therefrom. According to theembodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 3 and'l, the upper portion of lever 60 has flattened surfaces 5i .and an arcuately shaped slot '62 therein. A slide member 613 which fits slidably into slot 52 has flanges 54 or similar means to prevent the slide member from moving laterally within slot 6.2, and eye members 65 .at its outer ends.

.As shown, particularly by Fig. 7, a steering rod -56 having a wheel '61 at its upper end is rotatably mounted within a bushing 58 secured by a around a pin or screw 13. The two free ends of the cable are passed through a series of pulleys 14 which are secured to the walls of the boat,

and itsouter ends are fixed to the eyes 65 of the slide member. If desirable, and as shown in Fig.

3,coil springs 15 may be interposed between the ends .of the cable and the eyes 65 to provide a certain resiliency in the steering cable and to keep the same taut at all times. According to the modification shown in Fig. 6, the arcuate lever 50' is a'simple round bar and the slide member '63 is a plate with a central aperture 15 fitting over the bar 60 so as to slide easily along the same. A pair of holes 65' are provided at opposite ends of the slide plate 63 in which the ends of the cable 12 are secured, Fig. 5 discloses a modification of the swing frame which supports and guides the intermediate shaft 52 and the propeller 59. This modifled frame 39 consists of a bifurcated member 45", similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a pair of standards TI and 18 extending downwardly from the lower arm 40' of the bifurcated member 45' and preferably integral therewith. Further, this modified form includes a web 19 connecting thetwo uprights at their lower ends and projecting rearwardly to form a fin 80. 'Ball bearings in the lower arm 40' and the web '19 serve to support the intermediate shaft 52 rotatably within the swing frame 39, while the propeller shaft!" is rotatably'supported within a sleevelike projection 58 on the rear upright 11.

Operation of the novel propelling and steering mechanism provided by the present invention is as follows: I

Assoon as the foot pedals I 9 and the connecting rods 22-are reciprocated, such motion' is transmitted to the flywheels 11, the main'drive shaft 116 and the bevel gear 54 for rotating the same in one or the other direction. Because the gear 54 is in censtant engagement with the bevel pinion 53, the intermediate shaft 52 and the pinion 55 at its lower end are rotated, and such rotation is transmitted to the propeller shaft 51 and the propeller 59 through the pinion 55 which iikevgise is in constant engagement with the pin If, during the operation of the propelling mechanism, the course of the boat should be changed, the steering wheel '61 is rotated whereby one end of the cable '12 is tightened and the other end is simultaneously released a corresponding amount. The arcuate lever 60, the swing frame 39 and the propeller 59-are thereby pivoted about the axis of the intermediate shaft 52 and the pinion 516 on the propeller shaft 51 rides epicyclically on the pinion '55 without interrupting the driving rotation .of the pinions.

If, in driving through low water, the swing frame 39 or the fin 4.7, or :80, respectively, should encounter an obstmction or touch the bottom, the entire swing frame 39 including the intermediate shaft 52 :and the propeller 59 on its shaft 51 is pivoted freely about the main drive shaft 16 through :the arms 12801 the U-shaped member 26, regardless of the steering angle of the pro el er :59..an d the ve pinion :3 d s p bracket 59 to a fixed part of the boat, and re- 35 cyclically about the :bevel gear .54without interrupting the driving rotation of the gear 54 and the continuous drive of the propeller 59. After sliding over the obstruction, the swing frame 39 returns by gravity to its normal vertical position Where it is prevented from oscillating in forward direction by a pair of pins or stops Bl secured to the side walls 14 of the recess ll.

Since the lever 60 is rigidly secured to the swing frame 39 and the semicircular or arcuate part 82 of the lever extends coaxially about the main drive shaft IS, pivoting of the swing frame 39 about the shaft l6 produces a rotative movement of the arcuate part 82 about the axis of shaft l6. Thus, the sliding element 63 is always spaced the same distance from the main drive shaft regardless of the pivoting angle of the swing frame 39.

The device according to the present invention has the great advantage over similar devices known prior thereto that the propelling, steering and pivoting mechanisms are combined to form a single compact unit which can be installed in a boat or removed therefrom within a very short time. The entire unit is simply inserted into the recess I I and secured to the side walls M by the bolts 35. The pedaling levers F9 are retained in the bearings 29 by nuts, cotter pins or the like, and the connecting rods 22 are fastened to the outer ends of levers l9 adjacent the pads 2| and to'flywheels ll by nuts 25. The steering rod 65 is inserted within the bushing til on bracket 69 and rotatably retained thereon by the collar 79 and the drum H which are fastened on the steering rod by set screws, or the like. The two ends of the cable 12 are passed through the pulleys 1 then looped through the eyes or holes 65 of the slide member 63 and secured thereto by eye-splicing.

If it is desired that the operating mechanism be removed so that the boat can be used as a rowboat, or for any other reason, the few screws, bolts or nuts and the like which hold the respective parts in place as described above, are loosened, the eyes which are spliced into the ends of the cable and which secure the cable to the slide member 63 are unspliced, whereupon the entire mechanism, with the exception of the bearings 20, the pulleys M, and the bracket 69 may be lifted out of the boat.

Furthermore, any desired number of pedaling units may be used in the boat. As shown by Figs. 1 and 2, extension links 83 may be provided to connect the respective pedaling levers 19 with each other and crossbars, the back of seats or any other fixed supports may be used to secure the bearings 20 thereto.

The propelling unit may also be secured to the boat in any desirable manner other than that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, a supporting bracket or a pair of brackets 84, may be secured to the stern wall l3 of the boat, and the swing frame 39 including the main drive shaft and associated elements may be secured to the bracket or brackets 84 in a similar manner as to the side walls id, as shown in Fig. 3. The swing frame 39 and intermediate shaft 52 according to this modification are preferably made of greater length than necessary in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and vertical slots 85 may be provided in the stern wall I3 and above the water line of the boat for the passage of the connecting rods 22.

The modification according to Fig. 8 has the advantage over the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 that it can be more easily applied to any ordinary type of rowboat. While according to Figs. 1 .to 4 a special walled recess H must be provided in the boat, the modification according to Fig. 8 only requires the securement of brackets 84 and the provision of a pair of narrow slots 85.

It may also be of advantage to provide a bore 86 or the like, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in one of the flywheels ii in which a hand lever 8? may be inserted, so that the propeller may be rotated by hand if the pedaling mechanism should break down during a trip on the water, or for any other reason.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

laving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use with a boat, the combination of a driving mechanism; propelling means actuated by said driving mechanism; steering means for turning said propelling mechanism relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat; and means for pivoting said propelling means freely about a normally horizontal axis independently of said steering means, said steering means including any arcuate post attached to said propelling means and extending around and above said horizontal axis and operating means attached to said post at an adjustable point of attachment.

2. For use with a boat, the combination of a driving mechanism; propelling means actuated by said driving mechanism; steering means for turning said propelling mechanism relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat, and means for pivoting said propelling means freely about a normally horizontal axis independently of said steering means, said steering means comprising an arcuate slotted post attached to said propelling means and extending around and above said horizontal axis and flexible operating means attached to said post at a point whose position is variable on the slotted portion,

3. For use with a boat, the combination of a propeller; means for suspending the propelled for freely swinging movement relative to a substantially horizontal axis; steering means for pivoting the propeller relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat; a post, in the steering means, extending around and above said horizontal axis, said post having a slotted portion; a member in the steering means, slidable relative to the slotted portion of the post, adapted to remain stationary but in operative association with the propeller during the swinging movement of the latter; a driving mechanism; power-transmitting means comprising a main shaft, an intermediate shaft, and a propeller shaft, each of said shafts being perpendicular to the planar projections of the other two shafts; and means for maintaining the driving mechanism and propeller in operative association with said power-transmitting means normally and during the swinging movement of the propeller.

EDWARD F. HEISE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,2Lfl,685. July 1, 19m.

EDWARD F. HEISE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered vpatent requiring correction as follows Page 5, sec 0nd column, line 50, claim 5, for the words "propelled for" read --propel1er for-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of August, A. D.-l9)+1.

Henry Van Arsdal'e, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

